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Business Development Officer Salary in the United States

How much does a Business Development Officer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Business Development Officer in the United States is $134,868 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $65.

However, a Business Development Officer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $161,098
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $124,434 to $148,598
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $114,934
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Business Development Officer Salaries

A Business Development Officer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Business Development Officer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Business Development Officer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $168,992
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $115,916
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $133,858
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $176,085
  • Expert (over 8 years): $213,248
Levels Salary
Business ... Level Business Development Officer$168,992
Business ... Level Business Development Officer$115,916
Business ... Level Business Development Officer$133,858
Business ... Level Business Development Officer$176,085
Business ... Level Business Development Officer$213,248
View as Graph

How Do Business Development Officer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Business Development Officers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $149,326.
  • California: $148,759.
  • Massachusetts: $146,777.

Top Paying Cities for Business Development Officers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $170,109
  • San Francisco: $168,246
  • Oakland: $164,701

What Skills Can Increase a Business Development Officer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 5.51% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.63% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Account Management (Mentioned in 1.07% Job Postings): An Account Manager has the role of managing sales and relationships with particular customers. An Account Manager maintains existing relationships with clients so that the business they work for is continously successful.
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 5.51%
Microsoft Office 1.63%
Account Management 1.07%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Business Development Officer's salary.

  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration $140,263
4%
Consulting $140,263
4%
Project Management $140,263
4%
Get Latest Data

Business Development Officer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Business Development Officer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Business Development Officer positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Business Development Officer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Business Development Officer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$202,302$97.050%
Aerospace & Defense$175,328$84.030%

How Education impacts a Business Development Officer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Business Development Officers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Business Development Officer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $134,176 and $144,439).

Business Development Officer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Business Development Officer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 4.7%
Associates 4.3%
Bachelors 45.3%
Masters 42.6%
Doctorate 2.6%
View as Graph

Business Development Officer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Business Development Officer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$124,434
Average $134,868/year
$148,598
$10,370
Average $11,239/month
$12,383
$2,393
Average $2,594/week
$2,858
$60
Average $65/hour
$71
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $148,598 $12,383 $2,858 $71
Average $134,868 $11,239 $2,594 $65
25th Percentile $124,434 $10,370 $2,393 $60

Most common benefits for Business Development Officer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Business Development Officer

Here are companies hiring for Business Development Officer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Business Development Officer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Business Development Officer?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Business Development Officer roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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